wailed

verb

past tense of wail
1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes

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2
as in howled
to make a long loud mournful sound the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters

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3
as in moaned
to utter a moan the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wailed After her coffin was lowered into the grave and coral stones were arranged on top, her firstborn son, aged 5, was led to it and wailed. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 The rocker took a step back from his usual double duty as lead singer and guitarist, opting to shred voraciously as Robinson wailed on the mic. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026 Fans wailed outside St James’ and Keegan stood on the steps to placate them, but then Les Ferdinand arrived and another Hollywood-upon-Tyne took shape. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 21 July 2026 Others complained their ears still rang from how hard their children wailed for AC, a plea the women denied them in the interest of saving on utility bills. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Kimiya wailed as the bio-andy moved toward the gaping hole. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 Meanwhile, DeGuzman wailed in the background. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 Founders of Avatech’s mentee companies, seated in front of their laptops, clapped and banged their hands on tables to the distinctive stomp-stomp-clap beat of the song as an electric guitar wailed. — Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026 On Choute’s lap rode her Siamese cat, Vergère, who wailed throughout the journey. — Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailed
  1. complained
  2. howled
  3. moaned
  4. screamed
  5. groaned
  6. whined
  7. sobbed
  8. muttered
Verb
  • The company previously tried removing artificial colors from Trix in 2015, but reversed course two years later after consumers complained about the cereal’s more muted appearance.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Detainees have long complained about harsh conditions, including faulty cooling and water systems.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of complained
Verb
  • Our arrival in the Madawaska River country of eastern Ontario, near Combermere, was noteworthy only for the snow flurries and marrow-chilling gales that howled down from Hudson Bay to greet us.
    — HARRY H. EDEL, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, after Germany invaded the USSR, Stalin turned on a dime and howled—correctly—that Germany was preparing to wipe the Russians out.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of howled
Verb
  • Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of moaned
Verb
  • Montes grabbed and threw two $10,000 candle holders to the ground, breaking them, and screamed at the congregation, according to prosecutors.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Police said the caller screamed and yelled while attempting to close the bathroom door.
    — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of screamed
Verb
  • One student groaned at the pitch; another shouted out the name OnlyMarms.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
  • As Brazil scored its first goal, fans in line groaned and cheered from beyond the barrier.
    — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Definition of groaned
Verb
  • Post-Covid, Hollywood has whined about the falloff for MPA fare in Pan Asian territories, particularly the once-robust South Korea.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 July 2026
  • After a few casts, Rubye’s rod bent, and the reel whined as line spooled out.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of whined
Verb
  • Afterward, Sanchez sobbed and Corbalan turned to the Sanchez family.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Also last week, court was paused several times as Clancy sobbed while witnesses from the medical examiner's office were on the stand.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of sobbed
Verb
  • This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of muttered

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wail
wailed
wailed (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Wailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailed. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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